Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-19
THE FORTUNES OF WAR;
OR THE FEUD OF TUE CALLAHAS-oGRADY.

L
Bridget Callahan and Nora o'Grady met at a
nsh-stall In the Isth-street Market and, az luck
wCuli have II, each nxed her fancy upon partic-
uiaFiy large and handsome founder which Law
upon the Shiny marble slab. The two women had
come up 20 the stan at about the same moment
y was not Bridget Galatians fault that the dealer,
a dlrs-SSinned Italian with sleepy black eyes,
happened 70 zee her 1rst but the o'Grady chose
20 thnk so and abused her roundly, while the
Italian rolled Up the fish In piece OF coarse brown
paper, counted out his customers change, and
bowed h.s thanks.
The tide OF Intellectual wrath which issued from
MS OGTady's lips surprised no one accustomed 10
tue place. u seemed rather 10 delight its object
NOrth O'Gra1y was a small woman. stout aud
nrtn set as an ale bottle, with rather long neck
anc small head, which was on this occasion
crowned with sailor hat belonging TO her mite
daughter, presumably snatched up by mistake In
her haste 20 get out for her daily marketing
Mrs. Callahan on the other hand, was OF generous
proportions with large, fat face and serene blue
eyes that could be savage enough upon occasion
And she was gOrgeOusly arrayed, wearing brill
FAINT Paisley shawl with fiery red center. yaunt
of social superiority which she had waved before
they met again az the door OF the market, and
assaulted each other with a mutual storm OF invec-
tive. for which the fish acted IS an excuse.
Both knew that there would De no making up
or 'Laking back" The day for reconciliation was
long gone by Just when this crisis had passed IL
would b. difficult TO say. whether IL occurred on
the day. some ten years gone oy, That the Two
families first took up their abode IN cottages SIDE
by side, and Ms. Galatians Tan threw dead cat
al Nrs OGrady and Mrs OGrady retaliated by
crushing pane OF glass In the Callahan domi-
c1le In her efforts 10 punish the cuprft, and
No Cssnan Sus gpOf rom beafn not e sa
pets and essayed 20 take the carpet
stick 70 Mrs. OGrady. 70 her own discontinue;
whether these small beginnings. which were liable
20 occur In any families OF the Callahan and
O'C;rady circ,e, formed the animus and incentive
10 afJer hostihties. who can say? Certain IL Is
that the war had been kept up with undated
yigOr ever since. There IL a certain convenience
in Quarreling over back fence, which people
VINO have hal TO nurse their wrath az distance
will readily appreciate. Anger has no chance to
cool as when time and distance intervene. over
the cook stove at tne washtno' ironing sweeping,
could penetrate the others domicile. IL Is need
less say that they made free use OF their OppOr-
tunitIes II there waA an Opprnbrious epithet IN
the vocabulary OF bilingsgate practiced in Goats
HOllow-that choice quarter OF san francisco
where both had the honor 70 claim a residence
which they had not at some time flung at each
other during their intercourse together, DOtn
would have thanked you 10 make II known that
they might at once atone for the deficiency. They
had reSoried % every eXpedient 10 prove their
genuine neighbOrly feeling. When MIS- Callahan
hung her washing over the PACK fence, MIS-.
The soil In both back yards was generally muched
with broken crOckery, old bottles bustles, corset
steeis battered tin cans, and other neigh0orly
coyIrtesies which had been exchanged over this
convenient back fence
In some ways this feud had been OF great benefit
10 both families. 10 had served as sort OF safety
valve for the conflicting emotions which often dis
turb the peace 81 household. How much bodily
fatigue and parental irritation the two mothers
mad worked OF upon each other viii probably
never BE- known. With the youngsters proxi-
hate estimate Of the exact amount OF viciousness
spared their own flesh and blood mlghe easily be
LlaGe. when Tim Callahan was spanked 0y his
mother he immediately cuffed young OGrady.
Wh-r. annie O'Grady was denied a new frock she
m. NJ m callahan
and OSradys spared. and scratched. and bit, and
s;Onel each other with prOmiscuOIs zeal
For time the heads OF the two families abStained
from any active participation In the general scrm
mage. looking with digDined indulgence upon the
rlashlngs Of the two weaker vessels. Little by
little they were drawn into the conflict Some
depTedattOns Of more than usual atrOcity had fired
O'Grady's b OOd, Cailah an had been wrought 10 a
freEZy b. the combined effects Of an insulting
taunt and unusually generous evening dram,
the two men had forthwith INDUCED In q knock
down night, and having once aired their grievances
within the arena OF the police court, regularly con-
trbuted To swell It's annals.
At the time which write an interesting bit OF
litigation pending between the two families.
The OGrldy's kept poultry, and sOrTy lot OF
fowls they were, MANNED anu crippled by the per-
trbe OF ducks and geese aud hens wandered about
the back yard. CT SECURED the OdOTOuS precincts
OF Goats Hollow. contriving 10 pick up pre-
cariOus living. sometimes they ventured on the
premises Of neiyhbOrs. and were driven away
With many loud "ShOo." shower OF dirt, or way-
ing OF dish-tOwels. Now, the Galatians had a
rOwer garden which was at once their glory
and their pride. being gorgeous with snowy
geraniuIns, prickly with cactus and redolent
with herbs. The OGr dy fowls, sharing the fam
LIZ animOsity, spIed ont this humble paradise and
besleged IL with persistence that Was positively
nS cTs1ce ~ and S raies left eaTesiy aar thew
invaded the Callahan garden and uprooted the
choicest plants. When the Galatians walled them
coping OF rocks around the entire lot they still
eontrived TO make periodical marauds. IL was
prfyaieiy whispered that the O'Gradys used TO set
nm
their Expectations. Be this as it may, the Gala
hans at length got dog, fierce, yellow, wills
warranted TO be death on fowls Thereafter when
q chicken or duck or goose stole into the Callahan
grounds, Its mangled body was promptly flung
back over the fence. The OGradys could not
stand this long. one day Mr.. OGrady pail
visit 70 a neighooring druggist, and the next
morning the Callahan dog was stin and stark.
That day at noon Mr.. Callahan swOre out
warrant for the arrest OF Mr.. O'Grady, and the
TRIAL Of the latter WAS set for week from the day
on which our sJory begins Both families were 10
be out in force, and the suit promised TO BE- the
occasion for airing long list OF grievances on both
sides
As the feminine heads OF these two warning fac
tons continued their hOmeward walk. 1t must not
be imagined that they took opposite sides OF the
street Had they belonged TO q different grade OF
sac.ety they would doubtless have cOntented Them
selves with Icy siares when they met, and gone
their way swelling with horrible things they
would have likeo 10 say. Being the women they
were, they had the comfort OF giving full vent
10 their feelings. and walked along side by side, IN
n neighborly fashion. punctuatIng each step with
angry words tart ejaculatOns and venomOus
sneerS When they had progressed a block or 50
a slight distraction, OF a not entirely agreeable
nature, occurred. A youthful Callahan was dis
covered In the at OF belabOring a young OGrady
with a 5-gallon OIL can, while bloody nose and a
scratch on the assailants face attested the ability
OF the OGrady 10 give as good as the Callahan
Se1t
The two mothers watched the battle with pride
Ia the proves Of her offspring. Neither at
tempted 70 interfere. This was a consistent re-
suit Of years OF Industrious training, a valiant
rally 70 the support OF the family traditions IL
was more than that, IL was salye for a secret
grievance that each nOurished In her heart For
upward Of year their two eldest had suspended
hostilities. Nay. more, Tim and Annie exchanged
shy giances OF sympathy and affection whenever
they met They had been seen walking together
scrOss The Hollow at night Annie, pretty, blue
eyed little creature who was really MODEST and
lsdynke, and altogether a very exceptional pro-
raw material, had nfted up her voice In defense
Of the Galatians In her mothers house.
Tim- a sturdy young fellow, who had spent the
best days OF his youth dOcglng the police authori-
ties and Industrial School. but had turned out a
very decent machlnlsJ after all, had left the
paternAl mansion the night before, samming the
door behind him. In resentment OF some sighting
allusion TO the OGsradys The neighbors were
b-ginning 70 say that IL was pity such likely
young couple should be kept apart by family dif-
f-rences; but the parents preserved an uncom-
promising front.
so absorbed were both women IN watching the
outcome OF the combat that they did not at first
observe q crowd that had gathered farther down
TIE street, nor the people running thither from
all quarters. Evidently something OF interest was
transpfing: possibly q IRE. The Galatians and